Chapter 2: The Biology Underlying

Behavior

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The Neuron

Nerve cells, the basic

elements of the nervous
system

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Neuron: Basic Structure

Dendrites
receive messages
from other neurons

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Neuron: Structure

Axon
Carries messages
destined for other
cells

Myelin Sheath
wrap themselves
around the axon
providing a
protective coating

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All-or-none law
Neurons are either on or off

Resting State
Negative electric charge
within the neuron

Action Potential
An electric nerve impulse
that travels through a
neuron, changing the cells
charge from negative to
positive

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Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that
carry messages
across the
synapse to the
dendrite (and
sometimes the
cell body) of a
receiver neuron

Synapse
A chemical
connection
that bridges
the gap
between two
neurons
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Excitatory messages
A chemical secretion that
makes it more likely that a
receiving neuron will fire and
an action potential will travel
down its axon.

Inhibitory Messages
A chemical secretion that
prevents a receiving neuron
from firing

Reuptake
The reabsorption of
neurotransmitters by a
terminal button

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Location
Brain, spinal cord,
peripheral nervous
system, especially some
organs of the
parasympathetic
nervous system

Effect
Excitatory in brain and
autonomic nervous
system; inhibitory
elsewhere

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Function
Muscle movement;
cognitive functioning

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Location
Brain, spinal cord

Effect
Excitatory

Function
Memory

Glutamate
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Location
Brain, spinal cord

Effect
Main inhibitory
neurotransmitter

Function
Eating, aggression, sleeping

Gamma-amino
butyric acid (GABBA)
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Location
Brain

Effect
Inhibitory or excitatory

Function
Muscle disorders, mental
disorders, Parkinsons
disease

Dopamine
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Location
Brain, spinal cord

Effect
Inhibitory

Function
Sleeping, eating, mood,
pain, depression

Serotonin
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Location
Brain, spinal cord

Effect
Primarily inhibitory, except in
hippocampus

Function
Pain suppression,
pleasurable feelings,
appetites, placebos

Endorphins
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Central Nervous System (CNS)

Spinal Cord
Reflexes
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons
Motor (Efferent) Neurons
Interneurons

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The Nervous System

Evolutionary psychology
the branch of psychology
that seeks to identify
behavior patterns that
are a result of our genetic
inheritance from our
ancestors

Behavioral genetics
the study of the effects of
heredity on behavior

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Spying on the Brain

Research Methods

Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Computerized Axial Tomography
(CAT) Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI)
Positron Emission Tomography
(PET)
Superconducting Quantum
Interference Device (SQUID)
Case Studies
Neurological Surgical
Procedures
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Central Core
controls such
basic functions as
eating and
sleeping

Medulla
Pons
Reticular
Formation

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Cerebellum
controls bodily
balance

Thalamus
relay station for
information
concerning
senses

Hypothalamus
maintains
homeostasis and
produces vital
basic behavior
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Limbic System

Controls
eating,
aggression,
and
reproduction

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Cerebral
Cortex
responsible
for the most
sophisticated
information
processing in
the brain

Association
Areas
Apraxia

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Motor Area
responsible for
voluntary movements
of particular parts of
the body

Speech areas
Brocas area
Wernickes area

Sensory Area
somatosensory area
auditory area
visual area

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The Specialization of the

Hemispheres
Hemispheres
two symmetrical left
and right halves of
the brain that control
the side of the body
opposite to their
location

Lateralization
the dominance of
one hemisphere of
the brain in specific
functions

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The Split Brain

Right and left hemispheres

Surgically cutting the corpus
callosum
Split Brain Patients
a person who suffers from
independent functioning of
the two halves of the brain

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The Endocrine System

Endocrine system
sends messages
throughout the
nervous system

Hormones
affect the functioning
or growth of other
parts of the body

Pituitary gland
the master gland

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